Because of a 1993 referendum vote by residents, all five commissioners would have been forced to step down after serving two four-year terms. But in November 1999, the city passed another referendum allowing commissioners to run again if they get 10 percent of their district's registered voters to sign a petition.

Because the mayor is an at-large position, Capellini had to garner only 5 percent of registered voters' signatures citywide.

Vice Mayor Kathy Shaddow will most likely not petition to run again in District 4, according to Noland. That will make Shaddow the first elected official to step down because of term limits.

Shaddow could not be reached Friday for comment.

Some other faces also reappeared on the municipal election scene.

Eric Hammond, who ran and lost a bid for Plantation City Council in 1999, filed to run again on Friday. Hammond filed for Group 3, the area held by Lee Hillier.

Hammond, 56, is a native of Jamaica who lives on the city's east side. He vowed to make the council more responsive to the interests of the neighborhood, home to the largest group of Caribbean natives in Plantation.

"I have a lot of ideas I want to see implemented," Hammond said. "I didn't fulfill my goal in 1999, and [unless elected] I don't really have the clout or wherewithal to do what I want for the betterment of Plantation."

FOR THE RECORD - PUBLISHED TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2001In Saturday's edition, the seat for which Steve Gonot is running was incorrect. He is running for the District 4 seat in Deerfield Beach. The name of David Gravelle, candidate for the District 1 seat in Deerfield beach, also was incorrect.We regret the errors.

Hillier, who has not yet filed for re-election but says he will run, already has drawn three opponents, the most of any of Plantation's three incumbents. The Plantation Acres resident wasn't put off by the crowded field.

"It doesn't bother me, because I'm doing a great job for the city," said Hillier, 45. "I've also [sought] to serve a more diverse group of people in Plantation."